Carrier or conveyer



'7 Sheets-Sheet l w. M. LEVY ET'AL CARRIER OR OONVEYER Filed Jan.

Oct. 28, 1941.

INVENTOR. WILLIAM M. LEVY I. BURGMAN M ATTORNEY.

Oct. 28, 1941.

w. M; LEVY ET AL 2,260,528

CARRIER OR CONVEYER Filed Jan. 18, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet Z- INVE OR. WILLIA EVY CARL -BURGMAN ATTORNEY.

Oct. 28, 1941. w, M, LEVY T AL 2,260,528

CARRIER 0R OONVEYER Filed Jan. 18, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 F IG.'7. 17 I 17 17 17 2 14 INV OR. WI LLIIEM EVY CARI. .BURGMAN ATTO NEY Oct. 28, 1941. w. M. LEVY ETAL 2,260,528

CARRIER OR CONVEYER Filed Jan. 18, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR WILLIAM M. LEVY CARL I. Bu RGMAN ATTORNEY.

Oct. 28, 1941. w, M, LEVY E'T AL 2,260,528

CARRIER OR CONVEYER Filed Jan. 18, 1940 v 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN OR. WILLIAM-K5. .EVY CARL LBURGMAN BY Q /4 ATTORNEY.

@ch 28, W41. w. M. LEVY ETAL CARRIER OR CONVEYER Filed Jan. 18, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 -INVENTOR.

WsLLIAM M. LEVY j CARL LBURGMAN ////Z\ f @351, q

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 28, 1941. w. M. LEVY EI'AL 2,260,528

CARRIER OR CONVEYER Filed Jan. 18, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. 16.

1N NTOR. WILLIAM LEVY F I6, 17, BY CARL I. BURGMAN Patented Oct. 28, 1941 H St. Louis, Mo; V Application January 18, 1940, Serial No. 3'1 4,s94

This invention relates generally to carriers or conveyers and, more particularly, to acertain-new and useful improvement in carriers or conveyers adapted especially, though not exclusively, for the movable support of apparel-garments and the like. i

' Our invention has for its primary objects the provision of carrier or conveyer mechanism so uniquely constructed as to utilize a maximum of the available space within a case, vault, or compartment for the compact and efiicient storage ordisplay of aplurality of rows of apparel-gar- =ments or other merchandise and, at the same time, so movably support such garments or merchandise as to enable the convenient, simple, and l facile introduction or removal of any particular or selected garment or article of merchandise or group of garments or merchandise-articles.

Our invention has for another object the pro vision of a carrier or conveyer comprising a plurality of separate or individual carriages adapted for travel in an endless somewhat elliptical path in such manner that the carriages on the upper run, and vice versa the carriages on the lower run, will be progressively shifted at the proper,

time so that the'merchandise supported or displayed on any particular carriages may be caused .to move or travel from the-lower to the upper run, or again vice versa from the upper'to the lower run, without interference with or engagement by the merchandise supported or displayed on any of the othercarriages.

Our invention has for a further object the provision of carrier or conveyer mechanism of the ,type and for the purpose stated which is rugged,

durable, and economical in construction and op- ?eration, and which, by reason of its space conservation and simplicity of manipulation, efiects material economies in storage or display costs. And with the above and other objects in view,

,,our invention resides in-the novele-features'of form, construction, arrangementand combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings (-7 sheets) invention; :---"Figurea:1l, is an :carrierorconveyer of Figure 10; v

Figure 12 is an enlarged-detail perspective View,

Referring now inmore detail and by reference 11 Claims. (oi. z t-1.5)

Figure .7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the carrier or conveyer; Figure 8 is an enlarged detail fragmental per- :sp'ective'view of a conveyer-carriage;

IFigur'e9 isa fragmentary or broken vertical sectional view of the carrier or conveyer;

Figure 10-is 'a-longitudinalsectional view of a storage or display compartment equipped with a modified form of carrier or conveyer constructed in accordance with and embodying our present enlarged broken view of the and Figure 13, is ,a transverse vertical sectional view,',of themodiiied carrier or conveyer of Fig 'ures 10 and 11;

: Figure 14 is a fragmental side elevational view "of a modified carriage-shifter or actuator for in- ;corporation selectively in the conveyor of Figures ,10, ,1,1 ,and 13;fl

" Figure 15 is a view sirnilar to Figure 11, illus- ,tr;ating-aslightlyvmodified drive for-the carriage- -ShifteiS;

Figure 16 is a fragmental transverse sectional view; of the conveyer or carrierequipped with a slightly modified "type; of carriage hanger-bar; and

, FigurelTLjsa detail'sectional View on the line ;l;'l -I1,Figure;16: 1

. For.-'pres ent ,descriptive purposes, our conveyer will be; described in connection with apparelgarments, although it is to be understood that the,conveyer.is equally adapted for merchandise of othertypes-and formscharactersto the drawings, which illustrate practic ale nbodimentsof our-invention, A designates ,a storage or display compartment, vault, or the dikefhaving a bottom wall or floor I, a top wall or ceiling;,2 arear wall 3, opposite side walls 4, and a front:wall 5, the latter including a con ventional airtight, fireproof door 6.

The height of the co'mpartment'A, that is to say,the distance Figures 1, 2, and 3 are longitudinal elevational ,views of a storage or displaycompartment constructedand equipped with a garment or merchandise supporting :and displaying carrier or conveyer embodying our present invention, the ,several viewsrespectively illustrating diiferent positions of the carrier or conveyerduring age or display operations;

Figures 4, 5, and 6 are enlarged views of the carrier or conveyer; Y

storbroken detail from the floor I to the ceilingZ, it may here be stated, should preferably be somewhat greater than twice the overall length of the garments .Bl for'storageflor display ofwhich a particular structure is designed. -In width and length, howeventhe compartment A may be of any suitable selecteddimensions within reasonable limits.

Formed preferably adjacent the intersections ;of theceiling-Z with the rear-and front walls 3, 5 .respectively, aresuitably shaped recesses or motor niches 1 for accomrnodating or housing 3 conventional synchronous motors 8, which are connected to suitable gear reduction units 9, it

being, of course, understood that the motors 8 are synchronously connected in parallel to any i i convenient source of electric power (not shown), 1 the main control switch ll being interposed in 4 series in the power line and preferably located 3 for convenient manipulation upon the front wall adjacent the door 6, all as best seen in Figu 1.

Mounted within the compartment A and 5 spaced inwardly from the respective side walls 4 by means of supporting studs l2, are parallel 1 preferably metallic partitions l3 ing track-forming slo-ts or ways l4 of continuous 1 preferably somewhat elliptical. or oval-shaped contour having an upper approximately horil zontal run h, a lower run h, and connecting suitably arcuate end-secl tions it". r I

approximately horizontal Chambers, as at c, c, are thus provided interposed for movement on the 'trackways I4, is' a series of registering pairs of spools orrollers l5 i bored, as shown; for rotatably accommodating the spindle-ends"; of suitable hanger-bars H, I which latter extend across the compartment A i from one partition l3 to approximately the op- I posite partition I3,'as best seen in Figure 9. The bar end or spindle-portions l6 are, in turn, sufficiently elongated to extend or project well within the respective opposite chambers c'," and" piv oted on the spindle bar-ends I6 on opposite sides 3 of, and, adjacent to,"- the spools or rollers l5, as

best seen in Figures Sand '9, are pairs of endof such sets supporting a hanger-bar.

Laterally'of the spoolsor rollers l5 and within the respective chambers c, the spindle bar-ends;

l6 are each provided with a suitable anti-friction Thus each set of:

having registerqentire numberv of carriages may be set up or 33, and the spindles are mounted in and assembled upon the walls 4. The outer rim or ring-like annular portion of each of the partitions I3 is then set in place. The lower carriages C, together with the associated garmentcarrying rods or hanger-bars IL-are then set up on the lower or, upwardly presented marginal edges of the trackways I4. Thereupon, the inner or disk-like portion of the partition I3 is fitted edgewise along its lower margininto the lower carriages or rollers l5 and shifted up into vertical position for securement in place by the studs I2. During this assembling operation, the pivoted links I8, I9, of the carriages C are disconnected from the rollers 20, 2|, so that the assembled on the lower run. Once the inner 3 mediate the walls 4 and partitionsl3, anddisroller 24 for engagement' in the bightof approximately U-shaped propelling yokes 2-1 mounted-at suitably spaced intervals upon respective flexible or roller chains 28, 'whichare, in turn, conventionally trained over sets of four sprockets '29 rotatively mounted-upOnspindles 36 supported at their ends inf-"ande'xtendlng crosswise the respective chambers c between the partitions -I3 and the sidewalls 4. As'indicat'edin-Figures 1, 2, and 3, and as best seen in Figures 4, 5,,and

6; the chains 28 are arranged in registering pairs 4 or sets within the chambers c at or adjacent'the' opposite or front and rear ends of the structure; theforward pair-of chains 28 having a portion 'of their run substantially conforming to the shape of: the f ront'en d portion'h of the trackways-l4 as such trackiways' extend from their upper} run h forwardly and'vertically downwa'rdly into their lower or return run it, while "similarly, the rearward pair 'of chains 28 partially conforms to the-shape of the rear end portion h" 4 of the trackways l4 as they extend upwardly from their lower run h to their upper run it,

all as bestsenin Figures! and 5.

In actually assembling the above-described irnechanismwithin the vault or compartment A, the several chains and sprockets 28, 29, 3l,-32.

or disk-like sections of the partitions l3 have been fastened in place, the carriages C and their associated rods I! are shifted outwardly, the 'roller's'20', "2|," inserted; and the links l8,- I9. swung up and fastened thereto, introducingbetween the several carriages the desired amount of space. Approximately half of the carriages will, of course, be manually shifted during this latter assembling operation to theupper run in order to'make room for the full set of properly spaced carriages.

For purposes presentlyiappearing, it' may be here stated" that each yoke 21-preferably includes a rigid long finger 25 and a rigid short finger 26,"and, as best seen in" Figures 1, 2, 3, and 9, on'e of the supporting shafts 30 'of each set of said sprockets extends laterally "outwardly of the co'mpartment A to receive a driving-sprocket- 3| connected by means of an auxiliary drive chain 32 ito a respective sprocket 33', which latter are, in turn; mounted upon a countershaft 34 provided intermediate its ends with a-wormgear 35 driven by a, worm 36 in aredu'ction unit 9.

In use and operation, the'door' 6fis opened and a selected number of garments or the like Baby means of suitable" hangers are dependingly engaged with any one of the hanger bars H. The switch H is then actuated "for energizing "merit of each of which is" transmitted through a'reduction-gear box 9,a worm 36, and a gear *35 to a' Shanta. In ma te shafts 34 transmit rotary movement through'the respectiv S rockets 33, chains 32, and 'sprockets'3l to'the'fr ont and rear sets of chains 28, which thereupon move in the respective directions shown by the arrows in Figure 4 and bring the propelling yokes 21 of the front chains 28 into engagement with rollers the same time, a second set of yokes 2! of said front chains engages the'rolle'rs 24 of the next succeeding or then empty hanger-bar l1.

Meanwhile, yokes 21 of the rear set of chains 28 are likewise engaging the rollers 24 of other particular hanger-bars 11 in the upper and lower runs of the trackways [4 in the respective positions shown in Figure 4.] On continued move-c ment of the front and'rear chains 28, the car-' I! of the lower run will be raised or elevated into the motors 8, the synchronous driving move-' the position formerly occupied by the preceding hanger-bar l1, all as best seen in Figures 5 and 6. The switch H is then turned off, shutting the motors down, and the nextsucceeding hangerbar I! may be readily loaded.

This process may be continued until all of the hanger-bars I! are loaded to the extent desired, the carriages C engaged by respective yokes 21 being thus propelled in the proper direction,- and the remaining carriages C shifted along the trackways [4 through and by endwise engagement with the so yoke-engaged carriages. Thus the several carriages C are intermittently shifted to and along the upper and lower runs of the trackways l4, and the carriages C given such I movement that the garments B supported on the upper trackway run may be lowered to and for movement along the lower trackway run without interfering or engaging in the slightest with garments B then depending for movements on such lower trackway run, and, similarly, garments B supported on the lower trackway run may be elevated or raised to and for movement along the upper trackway run without interfering or engaging in the slightest with garments B then depending for movement on such upper trackway run, all as indicated in Figures 1, 2, and 3. Subsequently, any particular garment'B disposed upon any particular hanger-bar I! may be quickly progressed to the door 6 for convenient display or removal by simply actuating the switch H and allowing the conveyor to run continuously in the manner above described until the particular or desired hanger-bar l1 comes into position.

In each successive operation, one hanger-bar I1 is lowered from the upper run it to the lower run h and another hanger-bar I1 is raised from the lower run h to the upper run h. The intermediate carriages C and their hanger-bars ll of the upper run it are intermittently progressed one space forwardly through carriage endwise impingement or engagement by the elevation of one of the hanger-bars I! from the lower tier to the upper tier. riages C and their hanger-bars I! of the lower tier are intermittently progressed one space rearwardly by movement of the carriages of the particular hanger-bar II which is being lowered from the upper tier to the lower tier, the space be tween the respective hanger-bars I! being always maintained substantially constant by the links l8, l9, and spacer rollers 22, 23, of the several carriages C, any shoulder to shoulder crushing engagement or abutment between the garments B i on one hanger-bar l1 and the garments B of a preceding or succeeding hanger-bar, as the case may be, being thereby totally prevented.

In Figures 10 to 13, both inclusive, we show a modified garment storage or display conveying or carrying mechanism of our invention for installation in a compartment A. In such modified structure, the compartment walls 4' are each provided on its inner face with a suitably shaped continuous recess 31, and fixed on said walls 4 for co-operation with said recesses 31 in 'the formation of registering trackways M, are suitably spaced concentric series of plates 38, 39, as best seen in Figure 13. 1

Disposed for travel or movement on the track- Similarly, the intermediate car- 2;

spindles 202 21, for rotatively supporting spacer spools :orrollers 22', 23'. The spindle portions 16' aresuitably provided within the compartment A with rollers 24 for engagement by and between yoke-fingers 25, 26', of so-called spider bars4'4ucentrally pinned or otherwise fixed upon a shaft j'ournaled in suitable bearings 46 mounted in the compartment walls 4', as best seen in Figure 13,' and provided on their respective outer-end with sprockets 41 for driving connection'b'y means of the sprocket chains 48 with intermediate drive sprockets 49, in turn, mounted upon the respective projecting ends of auxiliary drive shafts 34 substantially identical in all respects-with the auxiliary drive shafts 34.

' In use and operation, the modified conveyer of Figures 10 to. 13 is substantially similar to the conveyerof Figures 1 to 9, both inclusive. When the switch H is closed, the driving mechanism is set in motion, which, in turn, simultaneously and synchronously rotates the forward and rearward shafts 45 and the associated spider bars 44 for simultaneously pushing one set of carriages C and their hanger-bar I! rearwardly, elevating another set of carriages C and their hanger-bar I1, pushing a third set of carriages C and their hanger-bar I1 forwardly, and lowering a fourth set of carriages C, andtheir hanger-bar H, intermediate sets of carriages C and their respective hanger-bars I! being. intermittently through carriage abutment or impingement progressed forwardly and rearwardly, as the case may be, for display or selective removal of dependingly supported garments B or the like, all as best seen inFigure 10.

And, if desired, to facilitate movement or travel of the carriages C in either direction, the spiderbars 44 may be endwise provided with a double set of short fingers 26" or, in other words, a single longfinger 25" and double bights forrespective propelling engagement with the carriages C depending upon the direction of rotation of the spider-bars 44".

It will, of course, be understood that the front and rear sets of the chain actuating sprockets of Figures 1 to 7, both inclusive, may be quite readily chain or otherwise connected for synchronous actuation 'by a single prime mover just as easily as the gears or sprockets 41 of the modified structure may be so connected and driven. Illustrative is Figure 15, which shows the sprockets :41 connected bya chain or the like 50 for syncronous actuation by a single motor.

And Figures 16 and 17 illustrate a modified type of hanger-bar and supporting carriage. In such'typathe links 18 Hi of eachrespective carriage are pivotally connected .by a short shaft lfi yand journaled on the shaft l6 intermediate said links, is the central track-roller I5 The shafts [6 of the carriages C of each set are oppositely disposed, and formed in the'inner endportion of each is an annular seat or bearing, as at 5|,for' an end-portion of a stub-shaft 52 having its opposite end-portion permanently fixed between back-to-back disposed so-called compression angle-bars 53, 53,. in turn, permanently fixed together in such relation. Also fixed to, and depending from, the angles 53, are supports 5 l'for a tension-bar 55, which extends lengthwise in spaced parallel relation to the angles 53, 53, and with the angles 53 forms a trussed' hanger.- bar of relatively great strength and rigidity.

- -It should also be understood that other changes and modificationsinthe form, construction, arrangement and combina on of the several parts 1 of. our 'conveyers. niaylbe made and. "substituted for those hereiir shown and desbfibedtwithout departingifrom the nature and principle not our inventionqf .2 1 '3 r Having thus described "our invention; what we claimiand desire t'ocsecu're 'by'.Letters Patentiisz 1. A- conveyer including" :an: endles's tr ackway .having..uppr and: lower' runs wand -.connecting end-runs; aseries' ofi separate carriages-mounted formovement. on the trackway, each of saidreaririage i including a set of spaced irollersan'd ilinks pivotally .connecting said. rollers, shafts..pro- 'jectingi fromthe carriages; and means comprising synchronously" moving'" yoke-members disposed adjacent the' end-runs :successively. de-

tachablyengageable with said shafts for, in a: spaced consecutive series, lowering the carriages ways,'han'ger-bars supported by the carriages. of

each set 'extendingtransversely between the 'trackways; and'means for simultaneously shifting a respective set of carriages along one end-run from the upper run to, and partially along, the

lower run and another respective set ofcar-- riages along the opposite end-run from the lower run to, and partially along; the'upper run, the intermediate sets of carriages being abuttingly by said respective sets of carriages further shifted along the upper and lower runs.

3. A conveyer including 'spaced registering trackways having upper and lower runs and connecting end-runs, a series of separate sets' of carriages mounted for movement on the trackways, hanger-bars supported by the carriages of each set extending transversely between the trackways, and means comprising propelling "yokes disposed for movement adjacent the end-runs for successive detachable engagement with the-sets of carriages for shifting a'particular set of carriages from the'upper'to', and partially along, the lower run and another particulars'et of carriages from the lower run to, and partially along the upper run, 'the intermediate'sets of carriages .being through abutment by the yoke-propelled sets of carriages further shifted along the upper and lower runs. 5 a 4L conveyer including spaced registering trackways having upper and lower runs and connecting end-runs, a series of separate sets of carriages mounted for'movement on the trackways, hanger-bar's supported by the carriages of each set extending transversely between the trackways, means comprising a set of propelling yokesfor -successive engagement with the sets of carriages for shifting the same from the upper to, and partially along, the lower run, and means comprising a second set of propelling yokes for consecutive engagement with' the sets of carriag'e's'for shifting the same from the lower run ;to, and partially along, the upper run, the inter mediate sets of carriages being through abutment by the particular yoke-propelled sets of carriages shifted further alongthe upper and lower runs I H 5. A conveyer including spaced registering trackways having upper and lower runs and connecting end-runs, a series of separate sets of carriages mounted for movement'on-.'the' trackiing of adjacent carriage along' the upper}v and lower runs.

6. A conveyer including a trackway, aseries of carriages mounted formovement on the-track: way, each of said carriages including -a set of spaced'rollers and links pivotally connected at one'end to each other and at their opposite end respectively connected pivotally to said rollers, shaftsprojecting from the'carriages, and means for engaging said shafts successively for effecting movement. of the carriages along the track-.

7; A conveyer including a trackway having upper and lower runs'andco-nnecting end-runs, a series of separate carriagesimounted for move mentonthe trackway, shafts projecting from said carriages, and means comprising synchronously actuable 'setsof yoke-members; disposed for movement adjacent the end-runs, successively detachably engageable with said shafts for; ina spaced consecutive series, lowering the carriages from the upper to, and out-of-the obstructing way of the suceeding carriage partially-:along, the lower run and elevating the same fromthe lower to and out of the obstructing way of, the 'succeed ing-carriage partially along; theupper'run, the intermediate carriages being intermittently through "abutment by the yoke-propelled carriages further shifted along the upperv and lower -8. Inga garment storage vault; garment conveying-vmeans including a plurality of horizontal hanger-bars mounted within the vaultfor move .mentin a spaced parallel, series along a lower run and-then forwardly alongan upper run, a 'forwardendless chain for lowering the-bars from .the upperto the lower run, "a rear endlesschain for elevating the barsfrom-the lower tolthe upper run and synchronized prime -movers drivingly connected to the forward'andrear'chains. p 9.: 'A garment conveyer including spaced trackways .havingupper and lower runs and ;connectingend-runs, a;seriesof sets of carriages mounted for movement on'the trackways, hanger-bars v supported'by thecarriages of each set extending transversely between the-trackways, means com-.-

{prising aset of propelling yokes -for successive engagement with the'sets of carriages for-shifting a' particular set of carriages from the upper torthe lower run; means comprising a second set of propelling yokes for consecutive engagement with the sets "of carriages for shifting another particular'set of carriages from the lower-run to'the upper run,- and means for synchronizing movement of said yokes.for simultaneously efs fecting lowering and elevating movementiof said respectivesets of carriages, the intermediate sets of carriages being through abutment shifted by the yoke-propelled sets of carriages=along the upper and lower runs; r

' -.10; A-garment conveyerincluding spaced reg is V tering trackways having upper and lower- 'runs runners and links pivotally connecting said runners, hanger-bars extending between, and having spindle-ends engaged by, the carriages of each set, and means comprising sets of yokes disposed for movement adjacent the end-runs successively engageable with the carriage spindleends for, in a spaced consecutive series, lowering the sets of carriages from the upper to the lower run and elevating the same from the lower to the upper run, said sets ofyokes being synchronized 10 for simultaneously lowering a particular set of carriages from the upper to the lower run and elevating another particular set of carriages from the lower run to the upper run, the intermediate 

